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Pearce makes formal announcement as candidate for Senate
Republican David Pearce, a three-time state representative, made the announcement at a press conference at the Vernon County Courthouse Feb. 25, that he would be filing for the seat of 31st District state senator.
"We came down this morning just to announce that we are going to file for senate tomorrow," said Pearce. "I'm excited about running for the state senate. I've been in the house for six years, I came in one term before Barney did and I love being a state representative, you're able to help out a lot of people, a lot of important issues."
Pearce outlined some of his qualifications in a prior release. "I have ample experience working to bring about change in state government," Pearce said. "During my three terms in the House, I've worked on measures that have put Missouri in better fiscal shape, helped increase economic growth, promoted family and pro-life values and increased funding for public education at the elementary, secondary and higher education levels. This is work I want to continue in the Senate."
Pearce was joined in his announcement by Rep. Barney Fisher who announced his support of Pearce. "When David Pearce speaks, we listen. I think he is going to make us an absolutely wonderful state senator on the 31st district and he has my most enthusiastic endorsement," said Fisher.
Pearce is vice chairman of the Higher Education Committee and serves on the public safety and corrections subcommittee of Appropriations, special committee on Job Creation and Economic Development and the Interim Committee to Evaluate the 911 System. He also is vice chairman of the Missouri Military Preparedness Committee.
According to Pearce, he is currently sponsoring legislation which includes:
* Correcting a problem in current law on transportation development districts to allow one vote to establish and fund the districts. The change is supported by the Missouri I-49 Coalition, which is working to transform US Highway 71 into a major north-south interstate across the United States.
* Tighten regulations to prohibit predatory lending practices by subprime lenders.
* Expand the No-Call list to include cell phone numbers, prohibit sending unsolicited faxes and text messages, and prohibit automatic dialing announcing devices in certain situations.
* Establish a Missouri Voluntary Developer Agreement Law to allow TIF-like programs to be implemented on a voluntary basis by public entities.
* Prohibit an individual from owning or operating a sexual offender treatment facility for more than one person who is required to register on the sexual offender registry.
* Strive to make Missouri a more military-friendly state by allowing teacher certifications from other states to be accepted so that military dependents have greater ease in transferring to Missouri; allowing first-grade students who have completed accredited kindergarten in another state to be accepted regardless of cutoff age; and allowing absentee voting in federal elections and school board elections.
On Jan. 7, Democrat Chris Benjamin, Harrisonville, former chief of staff for Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton, announced his intentions to file for the 31st district senate seat as well. He said in an interview on Monday that he is ready to begin campaigning. "I look forward to getting my message out there," he said.
During the January announcement, Benjamin listed several reasons for his decision to run and claimed he wanted to work with all parties . He said, "If elected, as senator I want to work with Democrats, Republi-cans, and independents to find real solutions to tackle the problems facing our state.
"This will take hard work, not politics. These are the values I learned growing up in the 31st District with friends from both parties. Public service should be about helping others and I pledge to make this my duty in public office."
Filing for this and several Vernon County elected positions begins Tuesday, Feb. 26, and continues through March 26. Candidates are expected to campaign until the primary election in August when their names will appear on the ballot.
The 31st Senatorial District includes Vernon, Bates, Cass and Johnson counties.